I think what we're experiencing here is the growing pains of our organization. You can't expect to grow like this has without some issues and we're starting to experience them now. Going from 1,800 to 3,400 from Seattle to Philly was huge and now 4,000. I think the AHA is doing their best to make sure the people who really want to go get to go but no matter what, someone will always feel left out.

To be clear, I am co-chairing the Mashing in Michigan 2014 Grand Rapids Conference. This means I know more of what is going on than most, some I can talk about, some I can't (contracts etc.)

Talking with staff, the best guess is that a lottery WILL NOT BE NECESSARY. If it is needed we will be ready.

What will happen. (This is preliminary until the AHA staff releases details on the website.)

The application is the basic unit here, and includes your guest. You will not be split from your guest.

There will be an "Application Window" in late February. I have tentative dates but cannot release them at this time. During the "Application Window" you will have a full week, weekdays and weekend to register. When you register will have NO IMPACT on the order of drawing, it will be (IF needed) a blind drawing. Now go back and reread that the best guess is that a lottery WILL NOT BE NECESSARY.

Based on the way beer events have been happening around the country is that without this "Application Window" everyone would be afraid of missing out and would apply within the first 5 minutes of opening. We all saw last year that this model causes all kinds of issues. If your job is such that you cannot signup during the day you would not be able to signup. We didn't like this. So to prevent this (again the best guess is that a lottery WILL NOT BE NECESSARY) we chose to implement the "Application Window".

If things go as planned EVERYONE that applied during the "Application Window" will get notice that their application has been accepted. If not, because we are over the capacity for this event, A blind drawing will occur.

During the Application Window you will fill out all the details for the conference, are you BJCP, Going to the Dinner, AHA number, Judging in the final round, volunteering (various activities during the conference (pouring etc,) and then repeat for your AHA member guest. No financial info will be collected at this time.

The registration Database will be checked for duplicates and duplicates will be eliminated.

When you get your acceptance you will have a minimum of 2 business days plus a full weekend to complete your registration and provide financial info to actually purchase your admission. You will not be able to change your guest or other details.

The AHA staff will try to include everyone, even if it slightly exceeds the numbers you have heard.

Please enter your information if you are planning to go. This will provide a benchmark for the AHA to better gauge demand for the event. This means that in the future we will be better able to predict the required size of the facility. This is done years in advance of the event.

Last year, despite all the problems, at the largest event to date, EVERYONE that had tried to purchase a ticket had the opportunity to do so. The AHA denied NONE.

As always we will look at any and all issues that come up for the purpose of making the next conference even better.

so if it happens (a lottery) it seems more likely that 7/8 club members would get picked, than 3/8. There is an excellent chance the other person can do what I did last year - contact a ticket seller, send 'em some $, they contact the AHA to have it transferred, and you're in the NHC.

...let's give this a chance to play out. if it is a disaster, I'll be right with you at the front of the line loading the Molotov cocktail into our homemade catapult.

The NHC location is decided years in advance and always has had a local committee behind it.We, the AHA and GC are always looking for new locations that can handle our new size. And with a favorable contract. The AHA/BA Events staff will work out those details, but we would love to be aware of more locations that can handle our event in future years.

We are prepared to handle 4000 this year (2014) in Michigan, and with the AHA's growth, and the growth of brewing in general it is normal to expect future conferences to be bigger. Please suggest facilities around the country that can handle us.

To help with the above, if you plan on attending Mashing in Michigan in 2014, Please register during the upcoming window. Please don't let your thoughts on any of the changes stop you. This will give us our first solid benchmark on demand in quite a while.